Deep in the woods of Forest Park sits a small building that looks like it was lifted straight out of the pages of a fairy tale. Instead of being the home to a princess or knight in shining armor though, this castle is a moss-covered, slightly creepy one that would have most definitely been home to a witch. Appropriately named the “Witch’s Castle,” this hidden Portland gem is right in the city, and is just waiting to be explored.
Neal Page / Flickr To get to the Witch’s Castle, head to Upper Macleay Park near the Portland Audubon Society, and hop on Wildwood Trail for about a half-mile. If you want to walk a little more, start at Lower Macleay (parking lot at NW 30th and Upshur) for a three-quarter mile hike.
Marie / Flickr You will follow along Balch Creek, and soon will see the castle that looks like it is torn from the pages of a fairy tale.
Marie / Flickr The actual building here was a ranger station in the 1950s, but since its abandon, has become a eerie reminder of the land’s past.
Marie / Flickr This land was once claimed by a man named Danford Balch. In the 1850s, he, his wife, and nine children lived in this area of the forest.
Brandon Seifert / Flickr He hired a transient worker, Mortimer Stump, to come help clear the land. As it turns out, Stump fell in love with Balch’s 15-year-old daughter and against the wishes of her family, asked for her hand in marriage.
Neal Page / Flickr When Balch said no, the young couple ran off to Vancouver to elope. Batch later saw Stump and shot him in the head, killing him.
Neal Page / Flickr After a trial, during which Balch escaped jail once, Balch was found guilty of the killing. Subsequently, he was hanged in 1858, the first such legal punishment in the new territory of Oregon.
Marie / Flickr To this day, people continue to report the spirit of Balch’s late wife to be present in the castle.
Mike Rohrig / Flickr This haunting story makes a trip to the hidden castle in the woods all the more compelling. Next time you have a free afternoon, head over to Forest Park and visit this dark fairy tale scene for yourself.
Have you visited this hidden Portland castle?
Neal Page / Flickr
To get to the Witch’s Castle, head to Upper Macleay Park near the Portland Audubon Society, and hop on Wildwood Trail for about a half-mile. If you want to walk a little more, start at Lower Macleay (parking lot at NW 30th and Upshur) for a three-quarter mile hike.
Marie / Flickr
You will follow along Balch Creek, and soon will see the castle that looks like it is torn from the pages of a fairy tale.
The actual building here was a ranger station in the 1950s, but since its abandon, has become a eerie reminder of the land’s past.
This land was once claimed by a man named Danford Balch. In the 1850s, he, his wife, and nine children lived in this area of the forest.
Brandon Seifert / Flickr
He hired a transient worker, Mortimer Stump, to come help clear the land. As it turns out, Stump fell in love with Balch’s 15-year-old daughter and against the wishes of her family, asked for her hand in marriage.
When Balch said no, the young couple ran off to Vancouver to elope. Batch later saw Stump and shot him in the head, killing him.
After a trial, during which Balch escaped jail once, Balch was found guilty of the killing. Subsequently, he was hanged in 1858, the first such legal punishment in the new territory of Oregon.
To this day, people continue to report the spirit of Balch’s late wife to be present in the castle.
Mike Rohrig / Flickr
This haunting story makes a trip to the hidden castle in the woods all the more compelling. Next time you have a free afternoon, head over to Forest Park and visit this dark fairy tale scene for yourself.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
